3 takeaways from 3 days of Philadelphia Eagles training camp: Carson Wentz, taking care and more

PHILADELPHIA -- The preseason kicks off Thursday night for the Philadelphia Eagles, which wraps up the third block of practices on the team's training camp schedule.

So what did we learn over the past three days?

A couple new things, but it was mostly more of the same: The Eagles don't want to rush anyone back from injury, there are a couple intriguing position battles a little further down on the depth chart and the team appears to have turned the page from the Super Bowl run to look at 2018 with fresh eyes.

Here's a look at three takeaways from the three most recent practices.

1. The Eagles are being cautious with the whole team.

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

There has been plenty said and written about the return of quarterback Carson Wentz. It makes sense why: He's the franchise quarterback, and the Eagles' hopes of the next decade-plus could be pinned to his right arm (and repaired left knee). He last appeared in 11-on-11 drills on July 29 -- that was practice No. 3 -- and he hasn't done them again since. The Eagles are through 11 practices.

Coach Doug Pederson said he saw what he needed to see from Wentz to "ease" his mind, and he doesn't want to put him in unnecessary situations. Wentz said the team wants to keep him in a "controlled environment." It all makes sense during Wentz's return from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.

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It also makes sense when the entire team is considered. The Eagles are being cautious with the whole team. Pederson said he was planning on having practice in pads Tuesday, but he decided to put the Eagles in shells and shorts on what might have been the hottest day of training camp. The Eagles were in shells Monday, and while they were in pads for Sunday night's practice at Lincoln Financial Field, the public nature of that practice limited what the Eagles could do. That practice served more as a dress rehearsal for Thursday's preseason opener.

The Eagles played a football game Feb. 4. The regular season for most teams ended Dec. 31. That's three extra games over five weeks, including a hectic trip to Minneapolis for the Super Bowl. And the offseason never really died down for the Birds with all of the extra obligations that come with being Super Bowl champions. The team has acknowledged the offseason was short. Pederson didn't have rookies and selected vets report early. It all points toward a more managed camp.

The Eagles want to mesh being rested and healthy with being ready for the season, and it'll be interesting to see how that plays out over the next couple weeks. But the word of training camp appears to be caution.